Important! Only single Kinect 2 (Kinect for Xbox One) sensor can be connected to one PC due to limitation in Microsoft Kinect SDK 2. Each Kinect 2 (Kinect for Xbox One) sensor can be connected to a separate computer, Distributed Recording feature must be used.

Kinect for Xbox One

Microsoft Kinect for Windows

Kinect Sensors Comparison

Device

Pros

Cons

Kinect 2 for Windows / Kinect for Xbox One

Higher resolution of depth and RGB video

Lower noise, better quality of point cloud

Higher overall tracking quality can be expected

Much better feet tracking

Low mutual sensors interference

More tolerant to lighting conditions

Requires USB 3.0 controller

Only single sensor on one PC is supported by Microsoft Kinect SDK 2

Works on Windows 8 and higher. Does not work on Windows 7.

Kinect for Windows

Ensures tracking quality comparable with Kinect 2, but hardware requirements are not so strong

Requires USB 2.0 controller

Works on Windows 7 and higher

Lower resolution

Less tolerant to lighting conditions

Higher mutual interference of sensors leads to more noise in case of using several sensors